Thank you for your help! I too have thought Richard's middle name might be his mother's surname, but haven't been able to find any connections/leads. Here is the family group sheet for Richard and Rebecca. sorry about the formatting - I've been having tech difficulties recently. Beth Father Richard Gibson BROWN Birth abt 1800 NY or OHor VT Death unknown or disappeared or divorced from Rebecca Marriage 01/12/44 Rock Island Co., IL Marr Lic Rock Island Co., IL (Vol# OOA pg# 0022 rec# 00000224) Mother Rebecca MOORE (spelled Rhebeca on Marr Lic) Birth 22 Jun 1821 Newark, Licking Co., OH Census 1860 Mercer Co., IL Death 27 Mar 1910 Logan, Harrison Co., IA Burial Silver Hill Cemetery, Harrison Co, Jefferson Twp, Row 7 Other spouse Platt MOTT Marriage 22 Sep 1854 Mercer Co., IL *Children * M Loammi Bryon BROWN Birth 22 Feb 1840 Fairport, Muscatine Co., IA Census 1870 Magnolia, Harrison, IA Occupation Jul1880 liveryman; Mercer Co., IL Death 11 Jun 1912 Aledo Cemetery, Mercer Co., IL Birth Mother could've been a first wife of Richard or Father could've been first husband of Rebecca. Biographies of Loammi claim he is son of Richard and Rebecca. spouse Amanda MELTON Marriage 12 Nov 1865 M Benjamin Franklin BROWN Birth 31 May 1844 Illinois City, IL Census 1870 Magnolia, Harrison, IA Death 17 Feb 1888 Madrid, NE; buried La Grange Twp.., IA Burial Frazier Cemetery, Harrison Co., La Grange Twp., IA row 12 spouse Lucinda Ann BRAYTON Marriage 5 Feb 1868 Rock Island Co., IL spouse Mary Jane BRAYTON Marriage 1882 IA F Susan BROWN Birth abt 1846 Census 1870 Magnolia, Harrison, IA Place of reside 1912 Logan, Harrison Co., IA spouse ?YOUNG M Richard G. BROWN Birth 30 Nov 1848 Census 1870 Magnolia, Harrison, IA Burial Silver Hill Cemetery, Harrison Co., Jefferson Twp., IA row 8 Alt. Name RG Spouse Nellie S. THOMPSON Marriage 18 Oct 1888 Harrison Co, IA Spouse Melissa O. CHAMBERLAIN Marriage 28 Sep 1871 On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 6:46 AM, R. Mark Brown <knodish1@mac.com> wrote: > What do you know from the 1844-48 period Beth ? Any idea where he > married - Gibson could perhaps be his mother's maiden name - just a > guess. Mark >